Hey, everyone, jrpbsp here… Unfortunately my store did not have ‘Dark Avengers/ Uncanny X-Men: Exodus’ so I can only do one review this week, ‘X-Men Forever’.  Hope you enjoy.

X-Men Forever #7 (preview)
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Steve Scott
Inker: Al Vey

SPOILERS BELOW…

RECAP (see X-Men Forever #6 Review for last issue recap): The issue opens with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents deep in the Andes Mountains investigating the destruction of several tanks. They find a giant footprint but that is the only evidence, as none of their equipment works in the area.

Jean and Xavier try to use their telepathic powers to look around but as they make contact something big hits the agents taking down their helicopter and killing the ground troops. Something that cannot be seen by the naked eye.

Hank immediately suspects Sentinels but no one else seems to believe him. Fury wants to handle the problem but Xavier insists on sending the X-Men and calls in the troops. Scott, Rogue, Nightcrawler, Gambit and Kitty respond to the call.

Scott taps Rogue, Jean, Kitty and Nightcrawler to go and investigate, making Kurt the field leader. Fury invites himself along and Hank adds himself to the group so there will be someone on the ground to do analysis. Gambit stays behind to watch Ororo, and Scott remains at the mansion to keep an eye on Sabretooth.

On the flight to the Andes, Fury reflects on a mission from WWII when he served with one of the dead agents’ father’s uncle. The mission included the first meeting with a Canadian Captain by the name of Logan leading a group of soldiers. Fury’s Howling Commandos and Logan’s troops parachute out and attack a massive Nazi fortress housing a secret project.

Logan is the first one through and kills all the men inside ending with the scientist in charge. As Fury’s men prepare to blow the place up we see the scientist’s name is Dietrich Trask.

When the X-Men land at the site in the mountains they find no evidence except for the bodies. There are no footprints or technology of any kind. Kurt goes out to scout but comes back quickly screaming a warning. That comes only a few seconds before the group is hit by a huge energy blast. As they pick themselves up they are confronted by Master Mold who is preparing to terminate the mutants.

MY TAKE: This issue was a noticeable step up from the last one. I am not sure that it was as good as the first few but it was definitely a solid start to the new story arc. I have always been a fan of the Sentinels as villains and I am excited to see what Claremont is going to do with them this time.

My favorite part was the flashback to the war. I am partial to seeing some of the old conflicts especially when they involve Logan. I wish it had been a bit longer and more detailed but it was an entertaining and fun read. I am not completely sure how it pertains to the current story but I assume that will get explained in the next few issues.

The characters were done well enough although things still seem a bit off. I believe it has to do with the attempt at making the comic retro, but some of the dialogue reads very stilted. Still the little we see feels pretty accurate and it is nice to get even a glimpse of the old times.

Very little else happens in the comic, it is just a setup issue. Still the scenes with S.H.I.E.L.D. were pretty well done and you actually feel for them a bit when they are killed. I appreciated making them a bit more then just nameless and faceless victims. Their deaths were just to establish the threat but it is still nice to get to know the agents a little first.

That does not mean there are no problems with the comic. The focus is all over the place so a lot happens but the story does not progress much. While I can appreciate some of the aspects of the story it does make the whole comic feel kind of rushed. Not to mention that Fury has way too big of a role for a X-Men comic. I do not mind Nick but he really does not belong in this title, especially with such a large focus on him.

The art was still a problem for me as well. I did not even recognize Gambit or Kitty when they appeared. I honestly believed that Shadowcat was Betsy Braddock by the artwork. Most of the rest was fine but I do not understand suddenly redesigning character’s looks for no real reason.

In the end this was a good issue but it felt a bit rushed and scattered. Still it was a good beginning for the story and I am eager to see where it is going from here. I have not seen a decent Sentinel story in years and this one looks to have great potential. Hopefully, the next issue with get to the meat of the action.

Thanks for reading my review for Wolverine Files. I will be keeping to this format for the most part but please keep the comments coming and I will see everyone again next time.